The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School Board governs our schools through Policy Governance. This framework enables the School Board to focus on the goals we have for our students and our school district; it removes us from managing the day-to-day activities in our schools. Through Policy Governance, the Board provides oversight, guidance, and limitations to school administrators through written policies.
Finance Committee
Reviews monthly bills, develops an annual budget, and builds long-range financial plans. The committee sets financial goals necessary to achieve our educational priorities while minimizing expenditures, considering input from administration and community members.
Negotiations Committee
Meets with the administration and our attorney to make and respond to proposals from representatives for teachers and support staff. The Board takes responsibility for negotiating contracts that meet the needs of our students, taxpayers, and employees.
Community Engagement
Reaches out to community members, town select boards, and parent organizations to seek input. We conduct surveys of community members and students to ensure our policies and goals reflect the values of our community.
The school board’s direct management is limited to finance and negotiations. We govern other aspects through policies that:
- Define our goals (Ends Policies)
- Place restrictions on the Superintendent (Executive Limitations)
- Define how we act as a Board (Governance Policies)
The Superintendent retains authority over personnel and operational decisions. For example, when hiring a principal, the Superintendent forms a hiring committee and makes the final selection. The Board is informed but not directly involved in these management duties.
The Board encourages individual conversations outside of board meetings and welcomes public comment at meetings. Under Policy Governance, the Board listens to issues raised by the public and may revise policies as a direct response. We monitor the Superintendent’s performance—and their response to public concerns—through regular reports to ensure students are engaged, effective citizens.